Bulletin THE NEWSLETTER OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF VETERAN ASSOCIATIONS IN CANADA Vol. 04 • Winter 2011

In this issue... Commemorative War Memorial Program • 4 HONOUR • 10 Agent Orange Eligibility Amended • 1 NCVA Web Site Launched! • 4 King’s Vimy Ridge Medal Coming to Canada • 10 Merchant Navy Memorial • 2 Veterans Affairs Canada: 2011 Pension Rates • 4 Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy • 11 New Veterans Charter Update • 3 Ste. Anne’s Update • 8 Winterlude Ice Sculpture • 11 In Remembrance – Brian Costello • 3 Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal • 9 Preventing Falls • 12

Agent Orange Eligibility Amended

The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs, recently announced a significant change in the eligibility rules regarding the Agent Orange ex gratia payment. In addition, the government of Canada has extended the time that individuals have to submit an application. The previous prerequisite that eligible veterans had to be alive on February 6, 2006, has been withdrawn. Applicants now have until June 30, 2011 to obtain a relevant medical diagnosis and submit an application. In response to the announcement, NCVA Secretary General Brian Forbes sent out the following memo to NCVA Executive Officers and Representatives, Member-Associations: I am pleased to advise that the Minister of Veterans for some of the most seriously impacted families Affairs has announced a significant change in the where the veteran died from an early onset of the eligibility rules relating to the Agent Orange ex gratia Agent Orange exposure. payments made to those veterans exposed to Agent In recent meetings with the Minister and senior Orange in the 1960s. departmental officials, we had emphasized the As you will know, this has been a longstanding absolute need for this change in the retroactivity concern of NCVA and has been part and parcel of provisions of the ex gratia policy. our Legislative Agenda for a number of years. We also continue to pursue the question of the As I stated at our Annual General Meeting in pensionability of many of these cases from the Toronto in October, the previous policy of VAC had perspective of gaining entitlement for either a resulted in a travesty of justice for those families in disability pension or award as outlined in our NCVA circumstances where the veteran had died prior to legislative platform. We are currently working with 2006. There was simply no way to justify the exclusion Chuck McCabe of the Armed Forces Pensioners’/ of these individuals by means of this arbitrary line of Annuitants’ Association of Canada and other demarcation for entitlement purposes. In fact, it had organizations in this context with respect to our the consequence of precluding the receipt of benefits ongoing agenda with the Department.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 • 1 Over recent months, we have drawn to your attention from the Minister on a number of our priority the initial steps that have been taken by VAC in recommendations to improve benefit legislation improving the New Veterans Charter in direct available to traditional veterans. I will keep you response to the proposals made by the New Veterans apprised of these anticipated developments. Charter Advisory Group, of which NCVA is an integral representative. It is also our expectation that other positive announcements will be forthcoming

Merchant Navy Memorial

A recently erected monument, which is positioned on the bank of the Moira River in Franklin Park in Belleville, Ontario, provides long-deserved recognition for Canada’s Merchant Navy veterans. Phil Etter of the Canadian Merchant Navy Veterans Association and Belleville Mayor Neil Ellis spearheaded a successful campaign with the objective of acknowledging the wartime service and sacrifice of the veterans of Canada’s Merchant Navy. The Merchant Navy Memorial stands as an important addition to the tributes accorded to our military, past and present. The memorial has the following words etched on the polished face of a rough hewn boulder:

The Lifeline of the World 1914 – 1919 1939 – 1945 This memorial is dedicated to the men and women of the Canadian Merchant Navy. Their courage, fortitude and determination in two World Wars kept the ships sailing through the terrible years of unparalleled loss. In particular we remember the men and women who gave their lives and whose only grave is the sea. Their supreme sacrifice in both World Wars ensured the lifeline of Troops and of supplies without which victory could not have been ours and without which we would not now enjoy our freedom. Lest We Forget

A dedication of this memorial is planned for Spring 2011.

2 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 New Veterans Charter Update

Recent issues of the NCVA Bulletin have covered policy guidelines, as well as pressing with the developments regarding the New Veterans Charter. Minister’s office for implementation of Bill C-55, which would amend the Canadian Forces Members Despite announcements last fall by Veterans Affairs and Veterans Re-establishment and Compensation Canada of a substantial increase in programs to assist Act and the Pension Act. modern-day veterans and lower-ranked members of the Canadian Forces, it remains NCVA’s position A recent development concerning the New Veterans that this is a good first step, with still much to do. Charter was the announcement in December that Canada’s Auditor General, Sheila Fraser, will launch NCVA continues to call for the full implementation an audit into the implementation of the Charter, with of the recommendations of the New Veterans Charter the report expected to be released in the fall of 2012. Advisory Group, on which NCVA sits, and the additional proposals regarding the new Charter made by the Standing Committee on Veterans Affairs. It also remains NCVA’s high priority as part and parcel of its involvement with the New Veterans Charter Advisory Group to ensure that VAC also fulfills the Government’s commitment to traditional veterans and that the new Program’s development does not lead to any reduction in future benefits and services provided to traditional veterans and their dependants. We are also working closely with the VAC hierarchy to enhance or improve the Permanent Impairment Auditor General, Sheila Fraser

In Remembrance – Brian Costello

Brian Costello, former Mayor of Carleton Place, friend of all veterans and was also a dedicated member Ontario, and Peacetime veteran, passed away recently of the Almonte-based White Ensign Association, an at the age of 67. At the time of his passing, he was area organization for naval veterans. serving as Honorary Colonel of the 42nd Field Mr. Costello, well-known in the Regiment in Petawawa. community as a historian and a Mr. Costello was actively involved story-teller, was also the historian/ in politics for more than 30 years curator of the Canada Veterans Hall and served as Carleton Place Mayor of Valour, which is a unique project for three consecutive terms, ending allowing Canadians to learn, in one in 2003. location, biographic details of the men and women who served this Having served in the Royal Canadian country in the military forces. Navy in the 60s, he remained a

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 • 3 Commemorative War Memorial Program

As mentioned in the last NCVA Bulletin, It was recently announced that the Veterans Affairs Canada announced the Toronto District School Board is set Community War Memorial Program to receive funding through VAC’s which would see $5 million spread over Commemorative War Memorial a five-year period to be used to build Program to restore the Malvern cenotaphs/monuments or for major Collegiate Institute World War I additions to existing ones. Memorial. This monument was erected in 1922 in memory of those from the VAC has recently released a brochure for Institute who laid down their lives in the Community War Memorial Program, the Great War. Planned restoration which provides further information on work includes re-attaching the statue's this initiative. In addition, it outlines missing hand and replacing the missing the requirements necessary to complete sword. In addition, the cracked concrete and submit an application. Should you footing and some missing mortar will wish to obtain a copy of this brochure, also be replaced. please contact Veterans Affairs Canada toll-free at 1 866 522-2122.

NCVA Web Site Launched!

The National Council of Veteran Associations now has its own website – http://www.ncva-cnaac.ca. It includes member-groups, news releases, links and NCVA Bulletins. More will be added as the site develops.

Veterans Affairs Canada: 2011 Pension Rates

The monthly pension rates, effective January 1, 2011, are reproduced in this edition, for your reference. Note that rates have increased 3.346776% based on the Consumer Price Index, in accordance with Section 75 of the Pension Act. On the following pages, you will find the monthly rates of pensions for disabilities and dependants, as well as the rates of Exceptional Incapacity Allowance, Attendance Allowance and Clothing Allowance.

4 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 Table A. Monthly rates of pensions for disabilities

Table A. continued

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 • 5 Table B. Monthly rates of pensions for dependants

6 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 Table D. Rates of Exceptional Incapacity Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Clothing Allowance

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 • 7 Ste. Anne’s Update

In September, Federal authorities met with local veterans’ organizations at Ste. Anne’s Hospital to give them a briefing on the transfer of the hospital to the Quebec government. Okill Stuart President, 14th Canadian Field Regiment Association, and a Second World War veteran, attended this meeting on behalf of NCVA and was interviewed by the Montreal Gazette. The piece appeared too late for our last issue, and so we are reprinting it below. As per the recommendation outlined in our legislative program for the coming year, NCVA will continue to express the significant concerns to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and the Chief Negotiator, and intends to hold ongoing discussions with the Minister’s Office to protect the veterans affected by this transfer. Our legislative program’s second recommendation is that NCVA take the position that the Federal Government retain control of the administration of Ste. Anne’s Hospital while the greater majority of the residents are veterans rather than transferring the institution to the province of Quebec with the proviso that a reasonable number of non-veteran patients be admitted to those vacant beds not occupied by veterans.

Quebec prepares to take over Ste. Anne's Hospital Provincial Health Department scouts size up West Island facility

David Johnston The Gazette, Friday, September 24, 2010 Among those Local veterans' groups tried to stage a symbolic vote attending at the meeting Thursday against the transfer of the Thursday's hospital, but the federal officials shot down the briefing on exercise. The veterans were told the government isn't the future of going to backtrack on its announcement in April Ste. Anne's that it intends to transfer Ste. Anne's to the province. Hospital was "It's a done deal, in their opinion," said Okill Stuart, Okill Stuart, a a Second World War veteran from St. Lambert, who World War 2 was at the meeting as a representative of the National veteran. Council of Veteran Associations of Canada. Though formal negotiations have not begun on The council and other veterans' groups oppose the the terms for transferring the federally run Ste. federal government's withdrawal from operating Anne's Hospital for war veterans to the Quebec veterans' hospitals. After the Second World War, government, the provincial Health Department the federal government ran 18 hospitals for has already sent scouts to the West Island hospital veterans. Since then, all but the facility in Ste. Anne to size things up for the eventual takeover. de Bellevue have been transferred to provincial This is what federal authorities told local veterans' control as veterans die off. organizations Thursday morning, during a two- The number of hospitalized patients has declined hour briefing at the Marriott Courtyard Hotel in because the federal government recognizes only St. Laurent.

8 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 veterans of the First World War, Second World There's a shortage of such beds now in the West War and Korean War as war veterans. All First Island. World War veterans are dead. In contrast to opposition to the transfer from Veterans' representatives Thursday repeated their national veterans' organizations, many veterans objections to this classification system. They argue living at Ste. Anne's say they are fairly happy with the federal government should widen its definition the idea of a transfer. At present, they can't get their of what a war veteran is to include Canadians wives into Ste. Anne's, because the hospital takes who have served in peacekeeping missions or in only veterans. But with the transfer to Quebec Afghanistan, and who will serve in future conflicts. jurisdiction, they have been told their wives will Ste. Anne's now has 410 veterans whose average age get priority should they need a chronic-care bed. is 88, compared with 725 with an average age of 76 Veterans living in Ste. Anne's also say a full in 1992. Thursday, veterans' organizations were told hospital stands a better chance of retaining and there will be only a projected 228 in 2015. attracting good employees than a hospital with a "But this whole demographic decline is being low occupancy rate. engineered simply by the government's restrictive Though yesterday's meeting was closed to media, a criteria," said Rick Cartmel, chairman of the Ste. federal official who was there, Faith McIntyre, said Anne's committee of the Black Watch Veterans later that although formal talks with Quebec have Association. not begun, "the government of Quebec has formally Since April, there have been three meetings confirmed its intention" to take over Ste. Anne's. between the federal Veterans Affairs Department It's just a matter of working out the details, and the provincial Health Department to set the including how much money, if any, Quebec will pay table for more formal negotiations. At the same for the hospital, she said. More than $100 million in time, provincial officials have visited Ste. Anne's to upgrades have been done in the past five years. take a look around. At present, one full floor at Ste. One condition of the transfer the federal Anne's is empty. government will insist on, McIntyre said, is that As the hospital continues to empty, Quebec wants Quebec agree to provide services to current Ste. to move in civilians in need of chronic-care beds. Anne's residents "in their language of choice."

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnston recently unveiled a special emblem and a commemorative medal which is being produced to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012. In the words of the Prime Minister, the medal will recognize “thousands of outstanding Canadians, of all ages, for service and achievement,” and “acknowledge those unsung heroes from all walks of life who support and contribute to their communities, each in their own unique ways.” The Diamond Jubilee Medal is the first program announced to mark the celebrations of the Queen’s 60 years on the throne. The emblem, which will stand as a symbol of the jubilee, will feature the Queen’s cipher set in a spray of maple leaves.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 • 9 HONOUR

Remembrance Day has now passed, but we would like to make mention of a unique project that has received national interest. Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT, a national company which provides housing and nursing home care to seniors, has recently released a book called HONOUR, which tells the stories of 35 of its residents who served Canada during the Second World War – either overseas or on the home front. A news release announcing the release of this book provides more information: Inspired by the 2010 death of Canada’s last WWI veteran in February, and in tribute to the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Chartwell Seniors Housing is proud to publish, HONOUR, a moving portrait of 35 WWII veterans and those who supported the war effort. Featuring photos by renowned Canadian photographer Yuri Dojc, and accompanied by interviews with the veterans, the book offers a reflective telling of their war experiences from a deeply personal perspective. The book features more than 35 stunning black and white and colour photographs accompanied by the intimate stories of these unassuming but courageous individuals. The release of this book has received wide media interest, including the Globe and Mail, CBC The Current, Reader's Digest on-line, Forever Young and Zoomer Magazine. Chartwell has kindly designated that net proceeds from the sale of this book are being donated to Canadian organizations committed to the remembrance of Canada’s veterans, including The War Amps Operation Legacy. HONOUR is available through www.chartwellreit.ca or at Chartwell homes across Canada.

King’s Vimy Ridge Medal Coming to Canada

A rare gold medal that was worn by King Edward VIII was recently displayed for the first time since its purchase by the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. Edward wore the medal on the lapel of his suit on July 26, 1936, at the inauguration of the Vimy Memorial in France. The medal has the inscription “Vimy Pilgrimage,” an engraving of the memorial and images of poppies set against a cross. It was given to all Canadian soldiers and their families to mark the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial. Montreal’s Vimy Foundation provided the funds – almost $20,000 – to purchase the medal. Shortly after the Vimy inauguration, Edward stepped down as King to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. The medal was among the possessions in the estate of Wallis Simpson, who took on the title of Duchess of Windsor upon her marriage to Edward.

10 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy

Last summer, in a ceremony marked with an Honour Guard, a Colour Party and a Parade, a Canadian football legend was honoured. The Canadian Football League, along with the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs, announced and unveiled the Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy. Jake Gaudaur, a Second World War veteran, started his football career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at age 19. One year later, he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force. While in the service, Gaudaur played on the Royal Canadian Air Force Hurricanes team – one of two military football teams – which created the bond between the Canadian Football League and the Armed Forces. After the war ended, Gaudaur returned to his beloved game of football and continued playing with various CFL teams for another 14 years, winning the Grey Cup twice in his career, first in 1942 and again in 1953. Upon his retirement from playing, Gaudaur presided as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats president and General Manager from 1954 to 1967, during which time they won four Grey Cups and nine East Division titles. As the longest running Commissioner of the CFL, from 1968 to 1984, his leadership turned the Grey Cup into an iconic event in the Nation’s sporting calendar. A founder of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame & Museum in Hamilton, he was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1985. The motto of the Order of Canada is paraphrased as follows: “They desired a better country.” Gaudaur embodied the spirit of these words in everything he did, including support for the disabled and Canada’s youth. This newest edition to the CFL trophy display strives to highlight the contribution of our veterans. The Jake Gaudaur Veterans’ Trophy is awarded yearly to the player who exemplifies the attributes shared by Canadian veterans; the player must exhibit strength of the body, mind and character, perseverance, courage, comradeship and a contribution to Canadian communities. The first recipient of this prestigious trophy was Mike McCullough, linebacker with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Jake Gaudaur Trophy joins the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy as the second commemorative trophy awarded in the CFL.

Winterlude Ice Sculpture

This year’s opening ceremonies for Ottawa’s Winterlude festivities included the unveiling of an ice sculpture honouring women who have served and continue to serve in the Canadian Forces. The ice sculpture marks 126 years of women serving proudly in the Canadian Military. It is a replica of The Nursing Sisters’ Memorial, which is located in the centre block of Parliament Hill. The original Nursing Sisters’ Memorial is a marble sculpture depicting nursing sisters helping injured and dying soldiers.

NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011 • 11 Preventing Falls

The War Amps produces an ongoing series of informative articles for its members on a variety of topics. As these articles are of interest and benefit to veterans and seniors generally, we will continue to reprint a selection in this and future issues. This edition’s article is the first in a series on how to prevent falls.

You Can Prevent Falls It’s a fact! Research shows that there are many risk factors linked to falls. Many of these risk factors can be reduced through awareness and simple changes. Falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries among senior Canadians and account for more than half of all injuries among seniors. Falls are the most preventable risk to health among senior Canadians. By reducing the risks! As we get older, our bodies change and we can become more susceptible to falls. Certain risks can be eliminated and others considerably reduced by simple prevention measures. By improving your health! Your health is just as important as a safe environment in preventing falls and reducing the risk of injury. By improving your diet, increasing your strength and monitoring your balance, hearing, eyesight and medication, you can considerably increase your chances of avoiding falls. By having a safe home and lifestyle! Most falls occur at home — especially in the kitchen, on the stairs and in the bathroom. You can prevent falls by following these tips: If possible, be physically active every day — even walking around the house will help. Eat regular, well-balanced meals. Keep your home and garden free of hazards. Install aids around your home such as grab bars, railings and non-slip surfaces. Keep your pathways and steps free of ice, snow, newspapers and leaves. Plan your outings to allow plenty of time — never rush. Use walking/balancing/hearing/seeing aids. Monitor your sight and hearing. People who cannot see or hear properly are at greater risk of falling. Ask for assistance with heavy work. Keep an eye out for dangers and hazards; inform the proper officials of any unsafe condition. Manage and monitor your medications properly (check with your doctor or pharmacist).

12 • NCVA Bulletin • Vol. 4 • Winter 2011